I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
An extra update this week. It's been a tough few days so I thought I'd post an extra chapter this week for some positive energy. Thank you for reading, have a nice day.
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A Taste of Magic
67th Course – Having a Ball
Harry sighed softly, looking at himself in the mirror. He looked at the person staring back at him. The person in the mirror looked good enough. The dress robes were made well and fitted very well: black pants and an off-white shirt with a black tie. His overrobes were dark green, almost black, depending on the light. His hair was a mess, but it always was, and his glasses were neat and straight. The person in the mirror looked terribly awkward though, and very insecure.
"You look nice," the mirror said. "Chin up, there you go."
Harry still remembered fondly the first time the mirror talked to him. Each dorm in Gryffindor had one, and they were enchanted to offer advice or tips or in the case of Seamus and Ron, harangue them as needed. The first time it spoke to Harry, it had been very kind and Harry had secretly liked it when the mirror cared about his appearance and did its best to help him. The Dursleys had only cared when Harry was seen on party nights and their comments put him down as opposed to the mirror's uplifting ones.
"I feel like I'm pretending or something," Harry confessed. "Or compensating for something? I don't know."
"Nothing wrong with a bit of pretend," the mirror said comfortably. "If you pretend long enough, sometimes it becomes real."
"I guess so," Harry said with a small smile.
"There's the smile. Go on! Be a gentleman, pretend to have some fun, and then don't be surprised when you actually have some."
"Thank you," Harry said gratefully and left the dorm room, leaving the other boys still getting ready. He walked down the staircase and into the common room. It was very strange. The last three years, he had been the only person to stay for the holidays, so he had the run of the room. This time, essentially everyone from fourth year and up stayed. That and all the different colored dress robes and clothing made it look even busier than normal, making it look even more full.
"Hi Harry!" Parvati appeared and she looked him up and down. "Wow, you clean up good!"
"Thanks!" Harry smiled and blushed a little. "You look very nice. I really like your robes."
Parvati flushed a little but smiled too and twirled. Her dress robes were bright red but warm instead of shocking. A long piece of fabric wound around her waist and went over her shoulder and it was a warmer red edged in gold. "Thanks! I love being able to dress up in fancier clothes here and there." Her eyes widened when Harry handed her a slim case. "Oh what's this?"
"Sirius and Auntie Andi said it's traditional for a Ball," Harry said.
She opened it eagerly and smiled at the slim gold bracelet within. "It's so pretty! Thank you, I really like it." She wound it around her wrist and admired it. "And it matches my other things and my dress."
"I know you like gold and Padma likes silver," Harry said, happy that she was pleased.
"You're such a sweetie," Parvati said. "We're meeting Padma and Terry in the foyer. Just waiting on Hermione now. Lavender already left to meet Tomas."
"Sounds good," Harry said, trying to ignore a slight twinge in his stomach. It went away when Hermione walked down the steps and he smiled at her. "You look great, Hermione."
Hermione smiled brightly. "Thank you! I was nervous but I really do like the dress robes."
"I told you," Parvati said. "You're going to knock Tracey's robes off. Now come on, let's go!" She tucked her arm into Harry's comfortably and they left, alongside a few others coming and leaving the common room and joining the flow of students walking towards the foyer and the Great Hall. The array of different colored and styled dress robes made the foyer seem even more fanciful compared to the regular day to day, enhancing the beautiful decorations.
"Hey there!" Padma waved them over. Her dress was similar to Parvati's but in turquoise and silver and Terry looked happy beside her in neatly fitted charcoal grey robes. Millicent and Neville were waiting there with Tracey, Daphne, and Blaise. Tracey and Hermione stood beside one another and they awkwardly talked and giggled with one another. Sue joined them as they waited for things to start.
"Wow, those look tight," Parvati said, looking at Blaise.
"They're fitted," Blaise said aristocratically. "To highlight assets."
"Yeah they sure are," Parvati snorted.
Daphne smiled. "I said the same thing. Pansy asked for us to save her a seat with her date. She went to the ship to meet him."
Eventually the Champions arrived with their dates. Cedric stood at the fore with Cho at his side, both looking happy and only slightly nervous by the scrutiny of others, him in bright canary yellow and her in royal blue. Viktor's dress robes looked vaguely militaristic but in a fashionable way and he stood beside a girl from his school, both in deep red. Fleur looked very comfortable standing alongside Colette who wore very masculine cut dress robes, both of them showing easy confidence and a shared amusement. Draco looked haughty and cool, trying to affect a disinterested air. A girl that they recognized as being one of the older Slytherin students stood next to him wearing a similar expression, both wearing very severely cut dress robes.
"I bet she's one of the ones going to the new school, right?" Parvati asked in a whisper.
Daphne nodded. "Indeed. She is a Selwyn, Verona Selwyn, sixth year."
"She doesn't look too happy," Padma observed.
"Looking happy isn't generally accepted," Millicent snorted.
The doors to the Great Hall opened and the Champions led the rest of the students within. The decorations of the Hall were incredible. Magical snow fell, melting into nothing a few feet above head height and stars glittered and shone in the enchanted ceiling. Candles glimmered and floated around them, making the snowflakes shine and dance. The long tables were replaced with many smaller round ones and a large stage sat where the professors typically sat. The Champions' table was upon the stage and everyone drifted to the tables to sit.
Harry and his friends found one in the corner and Pansy joined them. She wore very nice dark grey dress robes, floor length, with a shawl on top. "Hello everyone," she said brightly after finding them. "This is Felix Weber." The boy with her wore the sharp dress robes that most of the boys from Durmstrang wore.
"Pleasure," he said in slightly accented English, and offered his hand. "It is nice to meet Pansy's friends."
"May we join you as well?" Sophie appeared with Aimee, Lavender, and Tomas. "We have no true desire to sit with others from our school at the moment."
"Of course," Harry said. "Table should be big enough for all of us." He smiled as hard as he could at Lavender. "You look very nice."
"Thank you," she said, smiling back with a remarkably similar expression of intense effort. She wore sky-blue dress robes that flared out at the waist. She looked him up and down. "You look really nice too!"
They all sat around the table and music played softly on floating instruments that drifted about the room. Menus appeared on their plates and soon they learned to order by speaking their order clearly to the plate and the food would be sent up right after.
"Gosh, must be a lot of hard work for them down there," Harry said. "Having to pay attention to all the tables and plates. Normally they have a copy of the main tables down there and then send it all up."
"You have been to the kitchens?" Felix asked, intrigued. "Is that normally allowed? At Durmstrang, one does not go to the kitchens at all."
"Not normally, but normal for Harry," Parvati said.
"Oh he's your cook friend," Felix said to Pansy and she nodded. "I heard you made shkembe chorba. Krum was very happy for it."
"It tasted really good," Harry said and others who tried it nodded.
"I normally do not care for offal but I was surprised," Daphne said.
"To be fair, offal is frequently awful," Blaise said, making some groan and others laugh appreciatively.
"Students typically do not visit the kitchens at Beauxbatons either," Aimee said. "We have a cooking class and a teaching kitchen but the main kitchens is the domain of the kitchen staff and they do not take to intruders."
"Do they put you in the soup?" Felix asked. "That is the rumor at our school."
"I should hope not," Sophie said, scandalized.
"I'd love to have a cooking class here," Harry said wistfully.
"You're pretty much the authority on that here," Terry laughed. "You'd probably teach it."
"Oh look, they have steak frites," Harry said, looking at the menu. "Your favorite way to have chips, or frites."
Pansy smiled brightly. "Second favorite now, after your hamburgers."
"Ooh can we have those again soon? I miss them," Millicent said.
They ate and chatted, letting the festivities wash over them. Harry had good conversations with everyone around him, learning more about Durmstrang from Felix and even managed to learn a little more about German food from him. He tried his best to engage with Tomas but Tomas preferred to speak to Lavender and Aimee and Sophie. Eventually the dinner portion came to an end and the tables were moved to the edges and the back of the room, clearing a large dance floor.
The instruments gathered to the stage and began playing classical music and the Champions and their partners came to the dance floor to open the Ball. Fleur and Colette danced regally, appearing to almost glide on air. Krum and his date danced well, looking well practiced. Cedric and Cho were more awkward but still enthusiastic and Draco and Verona looked very proper.
"Why does she look like she's in pain?" Parvati whispered.
"She's dancing with him, I'd look like I'd be in pain too," Millicent whispered back, making the group snort and snicker.
"Typically one should look collected while dancing formally," Daphne whispered once the merriment subsided. "However, in her case, I do believe she is overcompensating and has gone for rictus instead." They laughed even harder at that.
Eventually the students were invited to join the Champions and they did in varying degrees of enthusiasm. Harry turned to Parvati and offered his hand. "I was told to do it this way but I'll be honest, I have no idea how to dance," Harry said with a sheepish smile.
"No problem! I don't know the formal stuff but that means we can make it up as we go." Parvati took his hand eagerly and pulled him onto the dance floor. She arranged their hands and they started to dance, trying to mimic the others.
"You look like someone shoved an insect down your back," Blaise said severely. "Potter, follow me. Like this, do it properly." He slowly exaggerated his movements with Daphne and Harry and Parvati followed along and soon they were waltzing with some degree of proficiency.
"Never thought I'd learn ballroom dancing on the fly like this," Harry said, grinning as he looked down at his feet.
"Me neither, and it's actually fun," Parvati laughed. "I'm looking forward to after the formal stuff though. The Weird Sisters are playing!"
"That's an odd way to describe yourself and Padma," Harry smiled.
Parvati laughed and pinched his waist. "That was good! Also I'm telling her." She smiled warmly. "Look at you, comfortable enough to give me the business and not just let me dish it to you."
"You're my really good friend," Harry said. "Superior, so I've been told."
"Damn straight," Parvati smiled.
"But yeah, thanks for asking me to the Ball," he said, growing a little more sober. "I'm having a lot of fun and I hope you are too."
"Don't worry, I am. When have I ever been shy about letting people know how I'm feeling?"
"That's true," Harry grinned. "I didn't ruin your other plans though, did I?"
"Nope. I genuinely didn't have a person that I wanted to go with and with you, I know you won't do anything rude or try to grope me or anything and I can just relax and have fun."
Harry frowned. "People do that? Just be rude and grope like that?"
"Oh yeah."
He scowled. "I can't imagine being like that."
Parvati laughed until her face was red, leaning on Harry for support. "I can't imagine you doing that either! Gosh, that'd be hilariously horrifying." Her laughter was infectious and his joined hers. She waited for a few moments. "So you never did say who you wanted to ask. Not out loud anyways."
"Oh, uhm, yeah, I guess not," he said evasively.
"Was it Lavender?" Parvati asked gently, no trace of jocularity in her tone.
After a moment of hesitation, Harry nodded. "Yeah," he admitted quietly.
Parvati gently steered him away from the center of the dance floor to the edge where their friends were not close by. "You like her, don't you?" she asked. "And I swear I won't tell anyone what you tell me. Maybe Padma, if I'm being honest but if you don't want me to, I'll try my hardest to not tell her."
He smiled a little. "I always appreciate your honesty. You'll tell me if you fib to me." He sighed. "I think I do. I mean, she's my best friend. She's my first real friend."
"After Hedwig of course," Parvati teased.
"Of course," Harry smiled. "But…I'm also afraid of liking her."
"Why? She won't bite. No wait, she will, if you scrap with her." She snickered a little at Harry's chuckle. "So why are you afraid?"
"What if she doesn't like me," he said, afraid to verbalize his fear. "What if something happens and we aren't friends anymore. I…I don't know if I could deal with us not being friends."
"Okay, that's a fair fear," Parvati said. I also think she does like you too and now that you mention it, I bet she's afraid of that stuff too. "But don't worry too much about that. You can't let that hold you back and who knows what will happen?"
"Aren't you taking divination?" Harry joked feebly.
She laughed again. "Damn, you got me. But I am starting to really approach divination as more of patterns and what could happen and what might not instead of what will or won't. Plus there's always a random chaos factor, something that will throw things off and can never be truly accounted for."
"I feel like my life is a chaos factor," Harry sighed. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Did…did I do something wrong? Lavender's been really weird the last week or so."
She sighed. "No, I don't think you did anything wrong. And you're not wrong, she's been a little weird. I know she wanted to get to know Tomas more and all but yeah, it's a bit awkward. If you caused any of it, it's only a tiny portion of it and she's guilty too."
"I feel like I did something wrong though," he fretted. "It's usually my fault."
"Unless you did something without me knowing, which is highly unlikely, and you did something really mean, which is even more unlikely, I really don't think it's your fault," she said soothingly.
Harry sighed, feeling better and not at the same time. "Thanks Parvati, I really appreciate it. You mean a lot to me and I'm grateful we're good friends."
"Me too," she said, heart soft and smile wide. "You're a great guy Harry and things will work out, I'm sure of it. This is only a temporary 'Lav is being weird' thing." She hugged him when he looked more relieved.
He hugged her back warmly. "Thanks," he sighed. "You and Padma are like the sisters I've never had. I was pretty jealous of you two when we first were getting to know each other. I thought having a twin would be nice. Always having a friend with you."
"Aww. Well, we fight, like a lot," Parvati said, looking over at Padma and Terry dancing.
"Well, yeah," Harry chuckled. "But you two obviously love and care about each other and it's really nice."
Her heart melted a little and her smile was even brighter. "Well, I'm cool with you being our brother and now I have someone to fight Padma with. Grandmum will be happy, she really does like you."
"She's cool. Scary, but cool," Harry said happily. "Can I ask one more question?"
"Sure, I need to ask one after too."
"Of course." He sighed again. "What should I do?"
"With Lav?" She hummed when he nodded. "You mean in terms of her being with Tomas?"
"Well, that I guess eventually. But more about how should I fix things? I miss her. I don't want to lose her as a friend."
Parvati smiled sadly. "I don't think that's a danger but just be your kind self. She'll come around and things will get better. And if she is even more stupid over it, I'll smack her until she's reasonable."
He sighed again but it sounded less heavy. "Thanks. What's your question?"
"Now that we're sibs of a sort, think you can get Hedwig to treat me more nicely?"
Harry laughed. "She likes you. She just likes messing with you. You know, like how you do with some people you like."
"Yeah, I guess that's fair," she giggled.
He hugged her again. "Thanks for everything, Parvati. Sorry for being a downer. I want to be a good date and help you have an awesome time."
She smiled brightly. "Well let's go get some butterbeers and get ready for the Weird Sisters! I think they're coming up soon!"
In a short time, the classical instruments had floated off the stage and were replaced with guitars and drums and other instruments like a marimba, bagpipes, and even an immensely large didgeridoo. The Weird Sisters came on stage, a large band with three witches as the front-liners. They wore artfully torn and colored robes and were greeted with wild applause and cheering. They began to play and colored lights and forms flew about the stage as they sang and played the instruments, starting with a fast-paced beat that was heavy on drum and bass.
Harry had never danced like this before. He had not danced much at all in his life to be honest. The one time he felt like doing so and tried when listening to music, he had been so soundly mocked by the Dursleys, he never tried again, keeping to humming along.
This music pounded and filled him with sound and magic, making him want to move and to jump and to smile and to laugh. It was fun to just dance with Parvati, joined by their friends in a small group to one side of the dance floor. They laughed as they moved around, uncaring and unworried by anything for a short time. It was pure and simple fun, and he reveled in it.
He caught Parvati when she stumbled, nearly falling off the dance floor, making them all howl with laughter. "Oof, I think I need a break," Parvati laughed as she regained her balance. "I hope I didn't break a heel."
"Oh wait, I know a spell for that." Harry tapped her shoe with his wand. "Reparo calcaenum." He grinned when her heel reknit itself. "Sirius taught me in a message and over the Floo. He said it would be really impressive."
"He's not wrong, that's brilliant," Parvati said as she stepped hard and smiled at her shoe being mended. "You'll need to teach me later." Her smile died as she looked away at the far end of the Great Hall. "Oh no."
Harry looked with her and turned concerned when he saw Lavender sitting in the corner by herself. "Oh no, I wonder what happened."
Parvati pulled him after her. "Come on, let's go be heroes." She and Harry threaded their way through the tables and chairs and approached their friend. "Hey, what happened?"
Lavender looked up and scrubbed her eyes, sniffling. "N-Nothing," she stammered. "Just sitting and was probably going to go back up to the tower…"
"What happened?" Parvati asked again, sitting beside her best friend and putting her arms around her. "Did Tomas say or do something?"
Lavender hiccupped. "I, uhm, it's so stupid. He said something I didn't like and we argued and I reacted strongly and well-" She looked up when Harry handed a handkerchief to her and looked down at her with sadness and anger in equal measure.
"What did he say?" Harry asked, his voice clipped. He saw Tomas in the distance with another girl and his face twisted, starting to walk that way.
"No!" Lavender reached out and grabbed his wrist. "It's not worth it, really, please."
"The hell it isn't," Parvati cried indignantly. "No one gets away with messing with our friend like that! Especially if they're being a prick over it!"
"Exactly," Harry said, looking severe.
"No, please, it's really not. It happened and it's done and I don't want to deal with it anymore," Lavender begged, tearing up.
"If you say so," Parvati said slowly. She looked up at Harry and nodded. "Right. Come on. You're our date for the rest of the night."
"I couldn't possibly," Lavender said, looking torn. "You two are having fun together and I don't want to ruin it."
"Ruin nothing. You're our date now and we're going to show Tom-arse how to treat a girl," Parvati said. "How can we have fun when you're not? Besides, I need help. Harry outdanced me."
"Really?" Lavender said, smiling a little through her tears.
"More like I need help," Harry said encouragingly. "You know how energetic Parvati is."
"Come on, Lav," Parvati said.
"Okay, if you're sure," she whispered, but looking relieved when Harry and Parvati nodded. She joined them willingly and when they rejoined their friends, a few of them looked at Lavender's recently departed distress with concern but had welcomed her with open arms with little provocation. Soon she was smiling once more, dancing with them and enjoying themselves again.
Later, Parvati and Millicent were getting drinks once more. "What happened to Lavender?" Millicent asked.
"Tomas was a Tom-arse to her," Parvati said angrily. "Left her crying over something he said. I'm going to get my revenge when holiday ends."
"I'll help. Snooty French bastard, I thought he was weird," Millicent said, glowering.
"Yeah, I thought so too. At least she's happier now. How're things going with Nev?"
"Great! He's surprisingly good at dancing. All those Pureblood Society lessons you know." Millicent stopped. "Hey, is everything okay?"
Pansy looked up from where she was sitting. "Oh yes, everything's fine. How're you?"
"Don't tell me your date ditched you too?!" Parvati cried.
Pansy smiled. "Yes and no. He was more of an escort than a date and he and Daphne hit it off actually. So I gave him my blessing."
"Aww, so Blaise got ditched?" Millicent snickered.
Pansy giggled. "Oh yes and he's currently drowning his sorrows in French wine." She pointed.
"Huh, good for him I guess," Millicent laughed, seeing Blaise dance with a girl from Beauxbatons. "So you're just sitting here by yourself?"
"Well I was dancing for a bit with Felix before he made his intentions known so I was resting. Wondering if I should head back early and pack before tomorrow's trip."
"Nah, don't do that," Parvati said. "Join us! The more the merrier."
"Are you sure?" Pansy asked, looking hopeful.
"Of course, we already rescued Lavender tonight. Come on, it'll be fun," Parvati said.
"Rescue Lavender? What happened?" Pansy asked, worried.
"Long story and I don't know all of it, but will try to learn and share what I can later," Parvati sighed.
"Yeah come on," Millicent urged. "It's still too early and we can crash when we get back and I'll wake us up early to pack."
"Okay!"
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It was coming to the end of the Ball and the music was slowing down to reflect the time. Lavender found herself dancing with Harry and she felt more than a little awkward, but she also felt a lot better than she did earlier in the night. They did not say much as they danced, the music filling the silence between.
"I'm sorry," Harry said at last. He flushed when she looked at him questioningly. "I'm sorry you had a bad night and that Tomas was a prat. You didn't deserve that."
"Oh, thank you," she sighed. "It's not all bad, I guess. I mean, I wish it didn't happen of course but at least I didn't run out sobbing and hide in my dorm room. I'm glad you and Parvati came over and convinced me to stay."
She looked away. "Sorry for ruining your date."
"You didn't ruin it. We wanted you to join us. And we came to the Ball together as friends," Harry said softly.
"That's good," Lavender said, relieved. Then the song ended and they broke apart awkwardly. She smiled distractedly when Parvati came over to take one last dance with Harry as first date, and she was grateful to rest for a moment, lost in her thoughts. As soon as they finished that dance, Parvati and Harry decided to head back and they said their goodbyes to people staying, and left with Lavender. They chatted and joked easily, like the three of them always did, before reaching Gryffindor tower. Harry bid them a good night and walked up to his dorm while Parvati and Lavender went to theirs.
They changed and got ready for bed in companionable silence, yawning and moving slowly. After lying in their beds, Lavender looked over. "Thanks," she said, softly but sincerely.
"You're welcome," Parvati said, knowing what she meant.
"Did you have fun?" Lavender asked.
"Mmmhmm! Harry was a perfect gentleman."
"That's good."
"We decided we're sibs now." Parvati sighed softly. "He said me and Padma are like sisters he never had."
"Aww, that's really sweet," Lavender gushed.
"Yeah it is." Parvati looked over. "He didn't do anything to upset you this last week, did he?"
"No, why?" Lavender asked, growing confused.
Parvati hummed. "He was just worried."
"Oh." Lavender looked up at the canopy of her bed. "No, he didn't."
"That's good." Parvati yawned. "Good night."
"Good night," Lavender replied. She slowly drifted off to sleep and dreamt complicated dreams.
-0-
"Hey there," the mirror said. "So, how did it go?"
"Pretty great," Harry said honestly. "For the most part."
"Told you. Pretended to have fun and had some real fun, didn't you."
"I did. Thank you." He got ready for bed, being the only one back so early. As he lay in his bed he sighed. "Does the pretending thing work for everything?"
"Not everything," the mirror said kindly. "But it never hurts to try it."
"Guess not. Thanks again."
"Anytime dear. Have a good night, sweet dreams."
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DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Trying something different this time. Thought it would be fun.
SolarSolstice - I had hoped people would sort or empathize with the situation and see it for what it is, and maybe have experienced something similar themselves, as in difficulty coming to terms to emotions and feelings and lost opportunities. I did a Hermione and Tracy relationship in His Last Curse. I thought it was fun and wanted to try it here and see how it felt.
doRodrigo - Here's an extra update this week.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - The clubroom is a nice space for people who are friendly to meet and learn about different things. I had tried to show that with the different Hogwarts students, Houses, and backgrounds. It felt right to expand it here to the International scene. Thanks for reading.
MultiversalCosms - That wasn't my intention. I hope future chapters might lend more insight into her thought process of what happened.
odonnellzoo99 - I had hoped to try something different here. I wanted to capture some of that high school awkwardness, of how hard it is to recognize feelings and how things sort of just happen and you have to try and react to it and work with it and the like. I clearly failed here given the feedback. I had the best intentions but fell short.
poka - I thought it might be fun to show him more of a student and less of a Quidditch superstar and do something a little more understated with him. Well, hopefully people like the upcoming chapters and hope it sheds some light and makes some sense.
Mitkon2001 - I had hoped people would see what happened here and kinda resonate with it a little. That this kind of awkwardness of high school and feelings and emotions is something that everyone can understand and recognize how painful it was and wonder how we all survived it.
SvenHPotterFan - I hope you like today's chapter in terms of your second point.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
61394 - I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thank you.
